The big hand of the clock ticked just past the twelve. A Geordie accent boomed out from the front of the hall:

"Your time's up, please stop writing."

A tiny smile crept across the face. I placed down my pen for the last time in the exam period and waited for my paper to be collected. It was over.

This year for me has been about so much more than just learning stuff for a year. It's been more than news values and modernism and electoral systems and the passé composé. This marks a big moment in my life. It's marks the end of the year where I finally Did Things For Myself. I haven't had my friends to hide behind, I haven't had someone to hold my hand. I've done something on my own. I never did that before. I always let someone else make decisions for me, someone else do the talking.

I've been remarkably laid back about it all. I haven't got in a complete paddy about anything. My skin, of course tells a different story ("stress-induced eczema" according to the nurse) but there's been no tantrums, no "I can't do this!" or "I can't cope!"s. I've sailed through it, I've made new friends, I've really enjoyed my first year - I hadn't thought that was possible after my two months at Glasgow.

What really stands out is that the only time I've taken off this year has been related to the common cold. No flare ups. My stomach has been incredibly well-behaved. And I love it for it.

And now, it’s finally the end of the dreaded exams.

I turned to Robert, grinning like a woman posessed.

"It's summer! We've made it!"

He raised an eyebrow at me. I just smiled and stood up to leave the hall, a bounce in my step as I made my way to the front to retrieve my bag.

You've done it... You've really, really done it...

And you know? I'm pretty bloody proud.


Posted: Tuesday 22 May 2007 21:18:10